COLUMBIA, Mo. - Family history experts and enthusiasts will gather Oct. 7 in Columbia for GenCOMO 2017, a family history and genealogy conference.
The conference is free, open to the public, and offers classes, exhibits, and family history personal consultations from 8 a.m.-3:30 p.m. at 4708 Highlands Pky. in Columbia. Guests are invited to attend all or part of the day.
Session topics will range from how to get started in family history work to tips for accessing military records. Some sessions will explain how to utilize resources specific to the Columbia area, such as county courthouses, the Missouri State Archive in Jefferson City or the Midwest Genealogy Center in Independence.
More advanced courses will discuss genealogical problem solving, such as how to trace female family lines, utilize DNA research and how to efficiently manage large amounts of data. There will also be sessions broadcasted from RootsTech 2017, the largest family history event in the world.
Presenters represent a spectrum of family history involvement and expertise from around the nation. Coming as directors of historical societies, professional archivists and librarians, and experienced researchers, each presenter has a rich background with much to share. Biographies for each presenter can be found at gencomo.org.
The website also has all the session information, the conference schedule, and the online registration form. Attendees of at least 12 years of age are welcome to attend all or part of the day.
The event is sponsored by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.